REGIONAL

It all started with an email from director Ingrid Walsh stating that Valley Regional Musical Productions (VRMP) would be performing The Wizard of Oz for this year’s musical. After anxiously waiting through the summer months, the excitement of singing and dancing in one of the most renowned fantasy narratives in American history was palpable among the entire ensemble of performers and crew.

“I know that when I opened the email, I was super excited,” said Ava Frost, who will be portraying Glinda the Good Witch and Aunt Em. “I think since Wizard of Oz is such a classic, you immediately think of the Lion, Tin Man, the Scarecrow, Dorothy.”

For a production so ubiquitous, it already had the show’s production stage manager, Allison McAloon, thinking about how her fellow crew members were going to approach some of the most memorable moments of a story that appeals to so many people.

“I Immediately started thinking about, ‘How are we going to do the transitions from Kansas to Oz?’” McAloon said. “I always think that it's gonna bring in a lot of people. You get like kids. You get adults, you get older generations, because everybody loves The Wizard of Oz.”

The selection of this classic production may be placing some weight of expectation on the ensemble’s shoulders, but it is important to Walsh that VRMP students get to experience performing a show of that caliber, especially for those who have been part of the group for their entire high school career. Frost spoke about how important that is to her and her fellow seniors in the show.

“One thing that I really admire about Ingrid is that she has not only so much dedication from VRMP, but she basically spends right from [when] the [last] show ends, all through the summer, picking out a show for us,” said Frost. “The Wizard of Oz really is our classic show that she really wanted us to do. She really keeps that in mind and wants to switch up the shows each year we’re here.”

In addition to Frost, the cast includes Madeline Morrissey as Zeke/the Cowardly Lion, Kayleigh MacKenzie as Dorothy, Kajsia Wright as the Wicked Witch of the West, Copper Edwards as Hickory/Tin Man, and Sarah Price as the marionettist of Toto.

MacKenzie said one of her favorite parts of the production has been finding her own version of Dorothy, rather than simply basing hers on the iconic performance of Judy Garland.

“I think one of my favorite things about the whole experience has just been making Dorothy my Dorothy and my version of it and not the Judy Garland version of it and trying to grow from there, especially because I think some people think of Dorothy as a shallow character, so it's been interesting trying to add in depth to her,” MacKenzie said.

Cast members Price and Edwards have also adapted to new roles outside of their comfort zones and skill sets. While Edwards, who was the puppeteer behind one of the mean-spirited plants in VRMP’s previous production of Little Shop of Horrors, is learning more about acting and dance rather than relying solely on voice, this year’s marionettist Price is learning about puppetry for the first time.

Opposing Dorothy is, of course, the Wicked Witch of West, portrayed by Wright, a freshman. Wright said she felt “genuine shock” upon learning that she had landed the role of green-faced villain, but has since “warmed up” to the character.

“I think it was hard because it's out of my comfort zone,” said Wright. “I've never played a role with that kind of arch. I was out of my comfort zone, but it was nice to get the experience in.”

Just like MacKenzie did as Dorothy, Wright took on the task of discovering more depth in the character of the Witch at the urging of Walsh.

“In the actual movie, I feel like everybody's character is kind of very one-sided. It’s really flat, I feel,” said Wright. “So, what I've been trying to do is incorporate different things from Wicked of [the musical and 1978 movie] The Wiz even and try and find different styles to add to make it my own, basically.”

Speaking of other versions of this classic, while most of VRMP’s performance remains loyal to the narrative of the 1939 movie, the ensemble said the audience will also see some additional story elements adopted from the original narrative in L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

“We are taking things from the book to put our own collective spin on the whole show,” said Price.

The crew said there will also be the addition of “The Jitterbug,” a song that was cut from the original film.

“It's a very exciting treat, said MacKenzie.

As for the stage set, the audience will be treated to a colorful presentation featuring many costume changes, along with striking and quirky visuals

“There’s a lot of 4D crew aspects,” said McAloon. “We have puppeteer trees that the crew entirely built this year. We have apples, and we have smoke. We have bubbles for Glinda entrances and exits. There’s a lot of interactive aspects to this show.”

Edwards said that combining the bright visuals with the deeper themes, particularly those found in the written narrative, will make for a unique experience for the audience.

“We’re trying to really bring it back in and still appreciate the artistry that was taken to enhance the visual aspects, as well,” said Edwards. “We want to combine all of that and make something unique as a combination of all those.”

Despite the show being an emotional send-off for the seniors, the cast and crew are excited to put on the performance for their community, while doing so alongside a group of cohorts with whom they have grown together as people.

“Musicals [are] a place where I'm [the] happiest. This is an amazing community full of so many great opportunities and wonderful people,” said Morrissey.

“Musicals are where I found my confidence,” added McAloon.

VRMP’s performances of The Wizard of Oz will take place at the auditorium of Valley Regional High School on Friday, March 15; Saturday, March 16; and Sunday, March 17. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on March 15, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on March 16, and 1 p.m. on March 17. Tickets are available for purchase at Valley Regional High School and Celebrations in Deep River.